All-new Vios: Toyota drops sexy 2023 Yaris Ativ teaser
The all-new Vios is coming
If there's one vehicle that the market is definitely waiting for, it's the new-generation Vios.
The current look has been around since 2018, but it was really an update of the generation that first debuted in 2013. For frame-based vehicles (e.g. SUVs and pick-ups) 9 years isn't that long, but in passenger car terms that's an eternity.
Now we may have an answer: Toyota has just dropped the first official teaser of the new generation Vios. We're not talking about Toyota Motor Philippines; what we're referring to is Toyota Motor Thailand.
Yes, they are giving us our first look at the all-new Vios... sort of. The reason is because what we call the Vios in the Philippines, they call it the Yaris Ativ over at The Land of Smiles.
The teaser itself is brief; like 15 seconds TikTok brief. It features a few glances at the new generation car with their endorser in the market. And yes the car looks rather sexy for a subcompact saloon. From what we gather, we can spot a grille that looks to be inspired by the spindle grille we've become accustomed to from Lexus. But perhaps the most striking revelation is that really sexy red interior. That was totally unexpected from a car bearing the Vios name.
Those with a sharp eye will notice something rather different about this generation, and that's the presence of an extra pair of rear quarter windows on the side. That's very unusual and fits well with the more fastback-like rear end.
In the last few years, we've been getting some info from our insiders in the region who tell us that the new generation model will be referred to as the D92A, and will use the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform. Essentially, it's Daihatsu's derivative of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) but is optimized for economical vehicles that Daihatsu is known for. You'll find it underpinning models like the Avanza, Veloz, and Raize.
The Thai version will most likely use the 1.2-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine to fit into the Thai Eco Car program, but it is unlikely that the Philippine market will use those engines. We expect Toyota to still use the 1.3L and 1.5L engines in the Philippines, but there may be an outside chance that they could go with the 1.0L turbo as with the Raize. We had also reported that the Vios could get a hybrid variant for a 2023 release, but given the parts shortage, that may be delayed if they do choose to push through with it.
Based on the short video, the new generation Vios will be revealed on 09.08.2022. They meant August 9, 2022, and not September 8, 2022. That's actually in line with our insiders reporting to us that the target launch is the third quarter of this year. We were also informed that Toyota will end the production of the Vios in Thailand this month to make way for the new model.
Expect the Philippine market to follow a few months after given that the model is produced here. Early 2023, perhaps?
